Posted on 03/22/2007 4:24:28 PM PDT by pissant
A top leader in the Southern Baptist Convention predicted that former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani would not succeed in winning the votes of Southern Baptists if he were to become the Republican nominee for president in 2008.
In brief comments after a chapel service at the North Carolina legislature on Wednesday, Richard Land, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich would likely fail for the same reason.
"Three is one marriage too many for them," said Land, referring to the 16.4 million members of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant group. Both Giuliani and Gingrich have been married three times.
A friend and adviser to President Bush, Land keeps close watch on politics as head of the commission, which studies moral, social, and religious liberty issues for the convention.
Though Southern Baptists are independent and do not necessarily follow his counsel, Land said three others who have already entered the presidential fray were more likely to win support among Southern Baptists. Those three are Sam Brownback, a Republican Senator from Kansas, Michael Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, and Duncan Hunter, Republican Congressman from California.
As for Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, who is a Mormon, Land didn't rule him out. But, he said, the Republican hopeful has to convince the American people that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints won't dictate his policy. Land said he met with Romney recently and told him: "That's not a hill that can't be climbed. But you're going to have to climb it."
Finally, Land said he sensed that U.S. Senator John McCain was perceived as a wild card.
"People are uncomfortable with his predictability," said Land. "They tell me, 'We don't know how he's going to come down on the issues.'"
Like I said, I'm not a Rudy supporter. I thought he was great for NY. I saw Time Square in 1973 and then again in 2003. It was incredible what he did with the city and of course his leadership in 2001. Do I want him as President? No.I would choose a number of other people for President before him. But if it were between Rudy and Hillary (or something comparable), not even close. You'll notice I said something, not someone. I'd vote for him in a NY second. In 2008, if Republicans stay home because it's not "their" candidate, IMO,this country is toast.
If Giuliani supporters continue to promote their liberal candidate on a conservative website, they can expect to be attacked by the people who are most offended by Giuliani's record, social conservatives. It is a full 10 months before the first primary. If Republicans stay home because he is the best the GOP could do, that is not our fault. I will vote, but it won't be for Giuliani or any Democrat.
Didn't mean to double post
I used Lieberman/Lamont as an example. A much better choice would have been the 92 election between Clinton, Bush and Perot. Then it was about taxes instead. Republicans angry at Bush (and I was one), broke ranks and supported Perot. This in effect handed the Clinton(s) the presidency. God, forgive me. The country is so evenly split between red and blue, none of us can afford to stay home. The stakes are to high.
If we do not get a candidate we can support, I suspect that many will stay home. I think there are about 16,000,000 of us.
Oh you didn't hear ? Rudy is leading in all the polls , we will march in lockstep to vote for him . </s
Oh I know , I was being sarcastic :)
Although women who repent of their actions and with contrite hearts seek forgiveness should receive it.
Prototypical Conservative?
Even if that were true (and I don't agree on that), Duncan Hunter is not electable, due to lack of National name-recognition, and MSM biased non-coverage to assure it remains so.
Fred Thompson would be far more likely to succeed in a National election than Duncan Hunter.
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